Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-13

belief on the part of such immigrants tha
the law was enforced. To say that Wichi
ia is an odious liquor town. and then say
that immigrants are coming to this state on
account of belief that the law is enforced,
when everybody knows that Wichita ha!
rec ived larger per cent of that immigra
ton than any city in Kansas is the mos
glaring contradiction we have ever known
a man, who pretends to be leader, make
over his own signature.
His fourth proposition that immigrants
have come here On the representation OF the
EAGLE that the prohibition law is enforced
puts Colonel Lewis square against oul
city's interest. If our representation that
the law is enforced brings people here to
build up Wichita, there is no getting
around the other conclusion, that his repre-
sent alton that the law is not enforced will
keep them away. We expect to see this
letter given wide circulation by papers that
are Jealous of Wichita and Colonel Lewis
will gain notoriety at the expense of his
own city.
His fifth proposition that we have
no officers to enforce the law
except the police commissioners
is made in face of the well known fact
that we have justices of the peace, with
their constables, and circuit court with
its sheriff and deputies and county attor-
ney, every one of whom are sworn officers
of the law, and every one of whom have
never refused to prosecute and try case
for violation of law when properly brought
to their notice.
His sixth proposition that no honorable
man will besmirch the reputation of men
W no ask for protection under the police
law, we answer that no true American will
take away from this city government
elected by over one thousand majority of
its citi zens, and substitute star chamber
minority government in its stead and be-
smirch all our courts of law and their Off
GERS
His seventh proposition that this police
law is as much in the line of the govern
ment of the people, and by the people, and
for the people, as law of congress ap-
proved by the president, may be answered
by saying that the constitution of these
United States makes it the duty of con-
gress 10 guarantee to each state republi-
can form of government. The legislature
of this state has given to Wichita govern
ment just the opposite to republican in
form and substance
His eighth proposition that the people who
oppose this police law are rebels, is ridicu-
lous, because the majority of our people
are opposed to it. The minority may be
usurpers, but there is no occasion for the
majority to be rebels. If the people had
wanted the men composing this commits
sion to govern the city. they could have
elected one of their number to the office of
mayor, and he could have ousted our po-
lice force, and there would have been no
demand for commission. Every intelli-
gent man in this state perhaps, with the
exception Of Col. Lewis, knows that the
prohibitory law does not depend for its en-
forcement upon city officers.
His ninth proposition that we are op-
posed to st1e law is not correct We are
opposed to CHASING Wichita with the cities
to which this law was intended to apply.
We are opposed to applying it to Wichita
because it is minority government. 1t is
un American in every sense and we pro-
pose, for what little time we have to live to
keep the American flag flying over the
EAGLE Office at least.
In his windup the colonel expresses a
fear that his devoted head will become that
of shining martyrs. The fear is like
that Of king surrounded by his cohorts.
The trepidation evinced seems
rather one of consequence. The
people may not be with him
but protected by the police commissioners,
whose champion he is, and hedged about
by the city marshal and his force, whom
he can command, lie can bid defiance to all
his enemies
la conclusion, my dear colonel, permit
us to assure you that there is no personal
feeling in this matter so far as we are con-
cerned We have not even mentioned the
name of a single one of the two hundred
and odd petitioners, nor single name of
one of the two thousand professors, nor yet
the name of one of the commissioners.
With us it has been simply question of
majority and minority rule, simply ques-
ton of republican form of govern
ment'' guaranteed by the federal constitu-
ton, and the sentiment represented by the
American flag and the hopes of American
citizenship, in contradistinction to star
chamber tyranny and minority dictation-
a question of Wichita's self-respect enter
prise, glory and continued superiority and
triumph over the schemes, Vaccinations
and lies of all her enemies everywhere.
WICHITA STILL LIVETH.
From he aroldSbl1ru " \ democrat